With constant support from model railroading clubs all over the country, Lionel Trains has led the toy train industry with innovative engineering, flawless manufacturing and superior customer service for over 115 years. To help us continue to make greater strides in the toy train industry we re-launched the Ambassador Program in July of 2015.
After two months of reviewing submission forms for the program, the Lionel team narrowed the field down to eight clubs that we felt would best represent Lionel Trains as ambassadors for the 2015-2016 year.
The Ambassador program extends exclusive benefits to these clubs to assist them in their mission to grow the hobby and pass on the “Magic of the Trains” to the next generation.
Want to know what the Lionel Club Ambassadors are up to in your area? Be sure to check out this page often for an update on upcoming events!
Great efforts have been made by all our 2015-2016 Lionel Club Ambassadors in sharing the "Magic of the Trains". One Club Ambassador stands out in creating events and sharing in the excitement of what is unique about their train club.
The winner for 2015-2016 is:
Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club in New Lenox, IL
Atlantic Coast S Gaugers
Hillsborough, NC
Number of members: 55
The ACSG have been using Lionel engines and accessories for years and have been a supportive club in mentioning the Lionel brand over many years. They are interactive in trying to get tens of thousands of people they display with each year involved in the hobby. The Carolina division alone will approach 100 days of operating in three states over the course of the year.
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Boston Metro Hi-Railers
Wilmington, MA
Number of members: 37
Founded in 1996, the Boston Metro Hi-Railers club is the only 3-rail O-Gauge club with a large permanent layout in Massachusetts. The 40x60 layout is fully wired with TMCC, Legacy and DCS systems. It is an ideal platform for demonstrating the latest products technology. In addition, they have two smaller layouts set up for childen to operate. “Do not touch” is never spoken around the kid-friendly layouts. Club members are active in promoting the toy train hobby to the community and enjoy constructing and operating the layout. Through Bob Hilliard’s efforts we have received very good press coverage from the local press as well as the surronding communities.
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Chicagoland Association of S Gaugers
Hinsdale, IL
Number of members: 65
An S – Gauge club for over 39 years, the Chicagoland Association of S Gaugers have been running/displaying Lionel American Flyer equipment on average 9 shows a year. They promote the model railroad hobby and educate the public on model railroading, scening construction, S Gauge Hi-Rail and scale and Lionel conventional and Legacy operation and benefits. The club has several outings per year to musesums, layouts and full scale train events. They rotate with 3 other S Gauge clubs hosting the Fall S Fest event in October.
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Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club
New Lenox, IL
Number of members: 101 local and 35 long distance
Since aquiring there new clubhouse in New Lenox, Illinois more than ten years ago they have developed a strong recogniztion in the Chicago area through nine monthly open houses hosted each year and from articles published in local print media and stories broadcasted on TV. The centerpiece of the open houses and the attraction for the news media is the main floor club layout – the largest interactive club layout in the midwest – where Lionel trains are run throughout the day along with Lionel operating accessories. Also operating during open houses is a smaller layout on the mezzanine where children under the supervision of club members can actually run the trains.
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Lionel Railroad Club of St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Number of members: 100
The Saint Louis Lionel Club has been active for 25 years and has always maintained 100 ore more active members. They have a large club facitlity which displays three large layouts for O Gauge, Standard Gauge and A/F trains. The club has sold unique Lionel club cars for over 20 years and can host public events entertaining over 100 people per event. They participate in all large scale train shows (10) in the St. Louis area with there portable layouts to attract kids of all ages. The club also sets up a small portable layout at selected Denny’s Restaurants by invitation to entertain the public and attaing goodwill for the club.
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New Jersey Hi-Railers
Paterson, NJ
Number of members: 58
Housed in an ex silk mill in Paterson, NJ the layout of the club measures 185 ft x 40 ft. The club currently has 60 display cases housing over 2000 engines. The layout has hosted events by the LCCA, TCA, METCA, local news organizations, friends of Tom Snyder and many more. Most new Lionel products can already be seen at the layout. Past Lionel CEO’s Dick Kughn, Dick Maddox and Jerry Calabrese have visited the layout. Neil Young has visited the layout when Legacy was just announced.
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Piedmont S Gaugers
Kings Mountain, NC
Number of members: 28
The Piedmont S Gaugers promote S Gauge, particularly all Lionel. The club feels that by promoting the hobby they wiill not on help S Gauge both the model train hobby as well. The club ranges with members across the Carolina’s and show case at various events and venues in the south.
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San Joaquin Valley Toy Train Operators
Turlock, CA
Number of members: 35
The organization is a non-profit (501 © 3) dedicated to the furtherance of the hobby of model railroading and making it available to the public through public demonstrations and there annual train show held at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds. They are an active organization, celebriting 40 years in 2014 who have taken activities to a new level with visits to the local area retirement centers where they entertain groups of up to 75 members. The members spent more than 60 days exhibiting layouts in publice venues in 2014 . There annual train show is December 6 & 7 with expected vendors of more than 150 tables.
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The information about the clubs is provided by them and may or may not be accurate depending on changes in membership, 501c status, etc.. Lionel is sharing their content and not validating it’s accuracy.